Endurance athletes are often below the “normal” BMI range. I, for instance, am 5’9″ and 135 pounds. I am a distance runner. And despite what someone else wrote, I have MORE muscle now (age 58) than when I was in my 20s. In my 20s, I wasn’t so active – wasn’t overweight, but had not discovered, and fallen in love with, endurance sports. I do duathalons and triathalons. I’m a dreadfully poor swimmer, so I can’t do an iron man. But at least once a year, I run a Marathon AND cycle 100 miles on the same day.

Every vital sign is far over into the “super healthy” region, according to the doctor. Resting pulse rate in the low 50s, normal blood pressure 110/50, etc. In fact, I’m slightly over-trained, and have low blood pressure, and have to INCREASE my salt intake, or I risk fainting after an athletic event.

Do not listen to ANYBODY claiming that “you’re too thin” or “that’s too extreme”, because we are all individuals, and body composition varies from person to person naturally.

The right weight is the weight where you feel more energetic than you thought you could.

According to your height of 5′ 9″ your ideal healthy weight is 152 pounds. Your recommended weight range is between 135 and 168 pounds.

Right now – I can’t seem to break 290lbs… So my focus is 270lbs first, then 250lbs, then we’ll plan from there…

Note: Before I go on, I think you are pretty much dead on with your analysis. Also, make sure you don’t cheat yourself when you determine your height. The scale doesn’t care if you have shoes on or not. If you are 5′ 8″ in bare feet and 5′ 9″ in shoes, I would use 5′ 8″ when calculating your ideal weight. Based on how you have positioned yourself this time around I think you have an excellent chance at meeting your goal. Remember, what you put in your mouth is 80% of the battle, so focus 80% of your efforts there and 20% on exercise, sleep, and general well being.

There is at least one more factor to plug into the am I fat question, age. When you were 20 you had X pounds of muscle. When you turn 50 the odds are pretty slim you will have the same number of pounds of muscle. As you know the same volume of muscle weighs more than fat and as you age your healthy bodyfat percentage increases.

So with that said you might be approaching this the wrong way, maybe if you just wait long enough, like out live Moses, you might find that your current weight is ideal.

I’m very interested in hearing from people that have lost weight successfully!